Strong Hickey

Michael and the Night Mother spoke for a couple more minutes, no longer sounding like bitter enemies, but eager salesman, hoping to get the best 'bang for their buck'. It wasn't all that hard for Michael as he technically held the advantage, having the Night Mother's Listener at his mercy tends to do that.

The Night Mother wasn't actually that versed in exchange either... She had no idea about haggling, nor about compromise...

In the end, Michael found himself with a fairly good deal, if he did say so himself... The Dark Brotherhood would not accept any more contracts on the lives of himself, and his friends. Not only that, but any Black Sacraments he performed would be the top priority, earning the attention of the entire Sanctuary to see it completed.

Michael didn't have any targets right now, but he'd rather hire the Dark Brotherhood to kill someone if they lived in say... The Empire... Or even the Summerset Isles.

With the deal struck, the girl's eyes, lips, and breathing return to normal, though, she appeared to have been aware of the entire thing judging by her shocked and slightly fearful expression. "W-what...."

"Calm down, me and your mother had a long talk about your recent behaviour." he chuckles to himself. "We are very disappointed in you. Your mother for failing to kill me. And me, for trying to kill me." he says, unable to stifle the laugh that'd been bubbling up in his throat.

The girl tentatively gets to her feet, grimacing at her broken arm but firming her determination to stay quiet. "Am I free to go?"

Michael nods, "Yeah. I'd like to get your name first though, so I know who I'll be working with in the future."

...

"Eleril." she says, but her eyes widen when a realisation hits her, "Y-your friend!" she exclaims, throwing her cloak back on to conceal her dull red and black armour and rushing away.

Michael follows the girl, and soon finds himself behind the inn he and Megumin had been staying at, in the small clearing that overlooked the North sea where she'd been practising her magic... Only to find the explosion girl on her knees with a child biting her neck...

"Babette! It's off! Stop!" Eleril starts but is unable to stop Michael as he blinks over and punts the mini-vampire like a football, sending her almost sprawling over the cliff with the girl barely catching herself on some frozen flora.

"Megumin! Are you alright!?" he asks, grabbing the pale-looking explosion girl and looking her over.

"N-not cute... S-stop biting me..." Megumin mutters in a daze with clear signs of blood loss.

He pulls a couple potions from his Inventory and all but forces them down the girl's throat. The health potions quickly cause the girl's pale, clammy skin to recover its usual youth. With that she finally passes out completely, leaving Michael alone with the two assassins.

Eleril was helping hold up the child vampire's weight as they walked over. His punt had clearly had an effect, the girl hunched over, for good reason to since he'd felt her ribs shatter under the force of his kick.

"You know, I used to think vampires were kinky but..." he points to the little girl's blood-covered mouth, "This is pretty gross."

The vampire shakes her head, "What's gross is your willingness to kick a young girl with what felt like the force of a giant." she remarks.

Michael shrugs, "I'd gladly curb stomp a cannibal, child or not."

The vampire sniffs, seemingly taking being called a cannibal as an insult, before turning to Eleril, "Has the plan changed? I hope we didn't get the wrong people again..."

"No. These two are our targets... Or were... He and the Night Mother had a talk, and made a deal. We're heading back." Eleril says, not wanting to explain that she'd been so thoroughly beaten that she'd been unable to use the poisons that Babette had given to her.

Babette nods, "Fine, I've already had my fill anyway." she sends a sarcastic wave to Michael, "See you two around."

"Let's hope it doesn't come to that, otherwise I'll need to order a mini casket."

Babette gives a fanged grin in response, "Good, though, it'll be a struggle squeezing you inside..." she says before.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Ugghh... What happened?" Megumin asks as she slowly sits up in bed, looking over to Michael who was seated at the side of the room.

He smiles, "Congratulations on getting your first kiss." he gives a mock sniff and wipes an invisible tear from his eye, "You're growing up so fast..."

"A kiss...?" she mumbles before her eyes widen, "That girl! V-vampire!..." she looks to Michael, "What happened!?"

He shrugs, "Yeah, in all seriousness you already got eaten. Don't worry though, I sent the vampire on her way with a few mean words..."

She shakes her head, "You're... Not lying..." she says, dumbfounded by the lack of deceit on his face.

"I made a deal with them. They won't be bothering us again... But if they do, you have my full permission to nuke their asses. Cool?"

Megumin lets a smile slip through but it vanishes when her hand comes up to her neck where the vampire bite still remains. "A-am I going to turn into one of them?"

"Probably not? She wanted to kill you, not unkill you."

...

Michael stands, "Anyway, I've called over Tiffania so she can baby you. You being her familiar and all." he says, stepping out of the room as Tiffania enters while carrying a tray of all of Megumin's favourite treats.

...

Maybe getting bitten by a vampire isn't the worst thing?